Selva Verde Lodge »

Located
just 2 hours from San Jose, Selva Verde Lodge provides easy access to the
wonders of the rainforest. For over 30 years, it has been a haven for nature
enthusiasts from around the world. The abundant biodiversity, comfortable
rainforest lodge, and exciting activities are ideal for adventure seekers, bird
and wildlife watchers, students, and families. Come explore Selva Verde's 500
acres of vibrant tropical nature in the heart of Costa Rica's Sarapiqui Canton.Visit Selva
Verde Lodge »

About Holbrook

When Giovanna Holbrook took on the challenge of leading two University of Florida
science professors and a group of naturalists to the Galápagos Islands in 1971,
she had no way of knowing the lasting impact that experience would have on her
life and on the lives of those traveling with her. Foregoing some creature
comforts, the group journeyed throughout the archipelago aboard a retired navy
vessel, propelled by their spirit of adventure and thirst for knowledge. At that
time, the Galápagos was just celebrating its twelfth year as a national park,
conservation work at the Charles Darwin Research Station was still in its
infancy, and tourism in the islands was virtually non-existent.

Spurred by memories of her pioneering voyage to the Galapagos, a lifelong love of
travel, and close ties to the local academic community, Giovanna embarked on a
mission to design travel programs that were both educational and affordable. Her
tireless efforts led to the birth of Holbrook Travel a few years later in 1974.
Taking its first baby steps, Holbrook Travel focused on creating and running
natural history programs for professors and students from the University of
Florida and Santa Fé Community College in Gainesville, Florida. The company
continued to grow and mature throughout the ensuing years, building
relationships with a variety of organizations throughout the U.S. and overseas,
and increasing its selection of travel destinations and program offerings.

In 1984, during the course of running a birding program in Costa Rica for the
Pittsburgh Aviary, Giovanna Holbrook came across a large forested property in
the Sarapiqui region that was in danger of being timbered. The owners wished to
sell the 500 acres of mostly old growth forest and had already begun cutting
some of the trees for lumber. When Giovanna saw a felled 900-year-old tree lying
on the ground, she realized that appreciating nature and sharing its wonders
with others was no longer enough—she also had to play a part in protecting and
caring for it.

It took almost one year to raise the money, but by 1985 Giovanna was able to
return to Costa Rica and buy the land. The once endangered forest became a
private rainforest reserve and one of the country’s first eco-lodges, the Selva
Verde Lodge and Rainforest Reserve. Selva Verde now plays an important role in
the San Juan-La Selva Biological Corridor and the greater Mesoamerican
Biological Corridor initiative, a proposal to create a corridor of protected
habitats extending from Mexico and Belize all the way to Panama.

More than thirty years later, Holbrook Travel continues to serve the needs of
teachers, students, academic institutions, and nature lovers. Although many
changes have taken place over the years, Holbrook Travel has taken great care to
remain true to its roots. As news of environmental concerns and world conflicts
continue to fill the airwaves, it seems more important than ever to help people
gain a better understanding and appreciation of the natural world and other
cultures through first-hand experiences. In the words of Andrea Holbrook,
president: “Our goal is to continue the great work my mother started.”